The Federal Bureau of Investigation is examining whether the قتل of former University of Calgary astrophysicist Carl Grillmair is connected to a series of cases involving scientists who have been killed or gone missing over the past four years.
Grillmair, 67, was found shot dead on the porch of his home in Llano, California, on Feb. 16. A graduate of the University of Calgary, he moved to the United States in the 1990s and worked at California Institute of Technology.
Authorities arrested 29-year-old Freddy Snyder days after the killing, charging him with murder and carjacking. He also faces a burglary charge linked to a separate incident in late December 2025.
Investigators are now exploring whether Grillmair’s death is part of a broader pattern involving scientists engaged in sensitive research, though officials caution that it is too early to determine if the cases are connected or coincidental. Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe urged caution around online speculation, emphasizing the importance of focusing on verified evidence.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he hopes the incidents are unrelated but confirmed that authorities are taking the matter seriously. The FBI has not indicated how long the investigation may take.
